von waldbergen



y 1955 L. T. VON WALDBERGEN 2,709,040

INDICATOR MEANS FOR A TYPEWRITER-COMPUTER READOUT MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1951 ENTOR L50 7. m lgvynpsn'otr B WM 1 y 1955 L. T. VON WALDBERGEN 2,709,040

INDICATOR MEANS FOR A TYPEWRITER-COMPUTER READOUT MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT'0 R 1. E0 T y Mun-35mm BY 5 I g r ATT R/YE I Q I Unite States Patent INDICATOR MEANS FOR A TYPEWRITER- COIVHUTER READSUT MECHANISM Leo Trnka Von Waldbergen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Application March 16, 1951, Serial No. 215,988

2$ Claims. (Cl. 235-59) It has already been known through a proposal of the inventors (French Patent No. 833,950) that it is possible to cause numbers to be visually indicated on a numberwriting oirlce machine, particularly on a full-keyboard accounting machine, which numbers were calculated on a non-writing calculating machine and have to be set up by hand on the writing machine. The term Writing-machine is used hereinafter to denote writing machines such as typewriters, cash registers, book-keeping machines with number keys and with or without symbol keys. Additional devices were associated with the writing machine and with the calculating machine, which are preferably locally separated machine-units, and the additional devices were controlled by the movable parts of these machines, that is, by the carriage of the writing machine and by the carriage of the calculating machine and its countingmechanism.

The additional devices form electrical connections be tween the said movable parts, which, by means of a current supply and electrical contacts associated with and operated by said movable parts, illuminate lamp (bulbs) on the digit-keys operated on the writing-machine. Thus in a full-keyboard accounting machine the result indicated on the totalizer of the calculating machine automatically appears by illumination of the corresponding digit-keys of the accounting machine at the moment when this result should be written. Furthermore, the actual carriage-setting or" the calculating machine, and hence also the position of the totalizer which would be operated directly with a motor-key operation of the calculating machine (plus or minus running of the calculating machine), is visually indicated.

The term places is used hereinafter to include the various powers of ten or decimal places of the number, if calculated in the decimal system.

Whereas the visual indication of the places in the known device described in the inventors French Patent No. 833,950 merely has the purpose of aiding shifting of the carriage of the writing machine to the desired position, Without the operator looking away from the keyboard of the Writing machine, an indication is now given to the operator by a visual signal (an illuminated tabulator key) as to which position the writing machine carriage is to be tabulated into, so that the number to be written can immediately be entered without preceding zeros. The device is so arranged that, as soon as the writing machine carriage has been brought to the required position by means of the illuminated tabulator key, the corresponding digit key, then to be operated, lights up.

If it is desired to write numbers on a writing machine with only ten digit-keys, for example an ordinary typewriter (in many of which the l is used as one and O is used as zero), which numbers have principally been given in the totalizer of the calculating-machine only after its operation or which had been set up previously on the key-board, which numbers have already mostly been forgotten through other operations, the person writing must first consider what place these numbers could l'illihllili Patented May 24, 155

have or did have. Alternatively, the highest place set up in the calculating machine must be previously read on, or the highest possible place in the desired column of the writing must be set up and how many zeros appear must then be observed, until the highest place set up in the calculating machine is signalled by the appearance of a digit-illumination on the writing machine, as corresponds to the original proposal of the inventors.

Practical experiments have shown that for a fully automatic process, even if only optical, such as the digit writing according to the prior proposal of the inventors, nothing is more troublesome than a sudden interruption by any necessary consideration or looking sideways, which considerably hinders the flow of work and makes errors probable. Any tendency for such interruptions to occur is avoided according to the invention by freeing the writer from the need for the above-mentioned consideration of the place of the number to be typed and its position in the column of writing. This is de facto more essential than a costly making of all operations automatic. Thus one object of the present invention is to make the prior proposal of the inventors applicable to machines without complete key-boards and with only ten digit-keys and hand-decimal or automatic tabulators, such as ordinary typewriters with or without actuators and counters and of ten-key adding (subtracting) accounting-machines, of which the pin-carriage by itself or by its auxiliary parts takes over the tabulation.

The main object of the invention is to provide an arrangement, whereby the means provided on the writing machine, for example lamps on the tabulator keys, for indicating the places, are automatically energized independently of the carriage-position or the calculating machine in such a manner that the particular numeral wheel of the totalizer which corresponds to the highest place of the number to be written energizes the particular indicating means which corresponds to the said highest place.

In this disclosure the expression place does not only mean a power of ten of a number in the decimal system, but also the corresponding series of the number units in any other computing system. Accordingly the invention is also applicable for example for calculations in the twelve and twenty systems in the English monetary system; by place are thus also understood the decimals of the penny, including the penny-places, the shillingplaces and the pound-sterling places of a sum of money.

According to the invention, after completion of the accounting operation on the calculating machine and before setting the carriage of the writing machine to the place required in the result column of the writing, a lamp is illuminated on the last-mentioned machine, which indicates the highest place of the result. The writer can thus set the typewriter-carriage correctly at this highest place without consideration and without looking away from the writing machine. By operating the illuminated tabulator-key, the typewriter-carriage travels in known way to the correct position corresponding to the highest place; thereafter the digit of the hi hest place of the result is illuminated on the writing machine and after operating this the digit of the next place is illuminated and so on. The term typewriter carriage employed to designate either the typical typewriter or bookkeeping machine carriage, movable relative to the kcboard or the movable machine head of a machine, in which this head, as in the "Elliott-Fischer-Underwood system, travels as a whole together with the keyboard over the writing-surface.

In the same way as described in connection with a tendigit-key typewriter or the like, for example a billing machine, with a tabulator, the invention is also advantageously applicable to writing machines without a tabua3 uigit-keys, for example to adding-accountwith a movable or stationary-pin carriage. v ases the optical indication of the highest place 053 not appea on the tabulator keys, but according to invention directly on the digit-keys.

urtaer applications and embodiments of the invention as well as their details are described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

in shows diagrammatically and schematically, partly broken away, a calculating machine with full keyboard provided with the device according to the invention and with the electrical connections which lead to the appropriate parts of the device, which is illustrated in Fig. 1b.

Fig. lb shows diagrammatically and schematically, partly broken away a ten-digitkcy typewriter with a tabulator and with the electrical connections of the device according to the invention leading to the machine according to Fig. la.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically and schematically in part-section, a simplified embodiment of the device used in the cal ulating machine according to Figs. 1a and 11 together with a wiring diagram.

Fig. 3 shot vs schematically a modified embodiment o a device similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but applied to the pincarriage of a ten-key accountingmachine (of known construction, not shown).

Fig. 4 shows schematically a perspective view of a keyless tabuiator according to the invention for the decimal places below unity, together with a part of the head or type carriage of a typewriter of the Elliott-Fischer Underwood type.

In Fig. la a calculating machine of known construction is indicated by V and guides a transversely moving carriage S, which is operated in known way by the shiftkeys 1 towards the left and r towards the right. These keys I and r belong to the usual keyboard T of the stationary part of the machine, which is designed here as a fullkeyboard, of which only three rows of keys with digit-keys l to 9 are shown for simplicity. Gbviously as many such rows of keys can be provided as is usual, corresponding to the desired highest denominational order of the counted numbers.

The carriage S carries as usual a number of rotatable numeral wheels 1 for the totalizer and u for the multiplier mechanism indicated as circles. The number of. these numeral wheels z is determined as usual according to the desired highest decimal place on the totalizer. In the parts described up till now the known semi-automatic construction is assumed in the outer construction and inner mechanism of any known calculating machine.

Similarly the appurtenant typewriter according to Fig. lb may be any known manually operated typewriter W, in its basic constrrction, which is provided with ten digitreys k and a number of tabulator keys t, according to the desired number of decimal places. The remainder of the keyboard of the typewriter W with the character, punctuation-sign and control keys is not illustrated to simplify the disclosure. The digit-keys k and the tabulator-keys t are provided a electric lamps f or g located on the key levers, which are enclosed by small tubular housings a. The circular upper walls of these housings a or the whole housings are made transparent and carry the signs indicating the key for the digits (1 to O) or for the decimal places I, H, Ill, 1V, V and so on for units, tens, hundreds and so on.

Each of the bulbs f and g has a separate circuit b1, b2 and so on, or b b and so on, only some of which are shown. The other pole of each circuit for the bulbs f and g consists of the metal chassis of the machine. One pole of the low-tension source is joined to the metal chassis of the machine by means of a lead 0, which source in the present case is shown as a low-tension mains transformer 01.

The typewriter-carriage e of the typewriter, of which the details are omitted, is moved by the tabulator-keys t (I to V) in the usual way to the actual column of the writing of each decimal place operated in known manner. The typewriter-carriage e carries an insulated sliding contact h rigidly connected to it, on which are secured three contact-springs and extends with these over a plate i of insulating material, which plate i is rigidly secured to the chassis of the typewriter W. On the plate i are provided various electric contacts and a traversing rail in to be described later; the latter is connected by the lead 11 with the other pole of the source of current (I and engages the contact arm 11 in its movement.

The carriage S of the calculating-machine V carries an insulating plate N by means of a column w, on which insulating plate p is rigidly mounted, which is shown standing to the side for clarity, but which in the practical embodiment is preferably mounted on the upper side of the plate N. Over the plate p extends an insulated contact arm q in the path of the carriage-movement, which is rigidly mounted on the stationary chassis of the calculating machine V. In the movement of the carriage it engages separate electric contacts S S s and so on, whose arrangement, number and position correspond to the arrangement of the individual numeral wheels 11. Like the numeral wheels It, these contacts s s and so on can be provided in any number and for example can extent from unity, ten and so on up to hundred thousand, although only four such contacts are shown. Each of these contacts is connected by a lead b to the key I, by a lead b to the key II, and so on, to the appropriate tabulator key t. The contact arm q receives current by a lead v which is connected to a contact-piece v1 on the beginning of the plate 1' and so on, if the contact arm It engages the rail in and the contact-piece v1 simultaneously. In this case the typewriter-carriage e is completely to the right at the beginning of the first column of writing, which will con tain .for example the multiplier value, such as nuantity of goods, which is to be multiplied subsequently with the price to be written in the third column, which then represents the multiplicand. This arrangement could also be found inversely. The third column corresponds to a contact-piece 1 2 on the insulating-plate i, and the fourth column, which should receive the result, to a contact-piece v3, in this case the total amount. Between the contact-pieces v1 and v2 is a column in which can be written, for example, the wording of an invoice.

The shafts of the numeral wheels z and h and of the calculating machine V are extended upwardly with insulating insert-pieces Z]. or In and carry above the insulation a spring-loaded contact-arm 12 or us, which can make a connection with digit-or distributor-contacts Z3 or 113 in the rotation of the shafts of the numeral wheels. The contact as and us are sunk into the insulating plate N for all numeral wheels, which is considered as being transparent for illustrative purposes. For each numeral wheel, ten such contacts are provided in a circular arrangement corresponding to the numeral wheel digits 0 to 9. The connecting-la ds are connected to contact rails which extend over th full length of the carriage S and on the latter are secured sliding contac s which are connected to the digit-contacts and 153 and touch the contact rails, so as to maintain connection of the leads x to the digit-contacts Z3 and 113 in all positions of the plate N relative to the lower part of the machine. These rails and sliding contacts are not shown in the drawing, to simplify the disclosure. These connecting rails x for all the digit-contacts zs and us, which belong to one and the same digit, for example to 0 or to l and so on of any numeral wheel 1 or u, are interconnected, so that in all only ten leads x pass from the counting-mechanisms R and U to the lower part of calculating machine, whereby as always, only three leads are shown for clarity.

Carrier-contacts zs or 115 slide constantly in contact on the metal shafts 24 and [i l of the numeral wheels above the insulating connecting pieces Z1 and 141. Leads us are connected to the carrier-contacts us, by means of sliding contacts connected to the leads Us and touching contact rails in connection with the carrier-contacts 115. Each of the carrier-contacts M5 leads to one of the denominational order contacts in on the insulating plate i of the typewriter, which are there electrically divided along the contact-pieces v, and are arranged from these in the series. The number of these contacts m and leads us is the same as the number of the numeral wheels u of the multiplier mechanism U. The contact arm 112 of any counting-mechanism-position it thus receives current through the appropriate lead us, the carrier contact U5 and the shaft in, as soon as the contact arm 112 makes the electrical connection of the rail m with the appropriate contact In.

In the same way the leads zs pass from the carrier contact Z5 of the numeral wheel 2 of the totalizer to the denominational order contacts zq on the insulating plate i of the typewriter W which are arranged, insulated from each other, corresponding to the decimal places of the last (fourth) column (result column). The contact arm Z2 of and numeral wheel z of the totalizer R thus receives current as soon as the contact-arm h makes an electrical connection between the appropriate contact Z7 and the rail m. The number of the contacts zq is shown very much greater than that of the contacts in, since the result in the calculating machine V as a rule runs to very many more places than in the multiplicand or the multiplier.

On a long bridge L rigidly connected to the carriage S, insulating-pieces 11 are pivotally mounted on axles 12, one for each numeral wheel z above the units decimal place. The first insulating-piece 11 in the series from the left is connected to a metal contact-spring 13, which is connected by means of a lead 14 to a contact-piece v; of the insulating plate 1 of the typewriter W and receives current from this as soon as the contact-arm it connects the contact-piece v3 to the rail m. This position of the typewriter W is attained when the last decimal place in the third column (price column) has been written.

The contact-spring 13 urges the rear end of the first insulating-piece 11 against a contact 16, which is mounted, like the contacts 15, 17, 18 and so on, on a long part M, which is connected to the insulating plate N and thus with the carriage S like the long bridge L. The rear ends 19 of the insulating-pieces 11 are made of metal. They can thus either make electrical connection on one side with the odd-numbered contacts 15, 17 and so on, as shown for the first insulating-piece 11 or on the other side with the oppositely-lying even-numbered contacts 16, 13 and so on. Each of the odd-numbered contacts 15, 17 is provided with a contact-spring constructed like the contact-spring 13; each contact-spring 20 and 13 is electrically and mechanically connected to I the metal rear end 19 of the next-following insulatingpiece 11. The even-numbered contacts 16, 18 and so on are connected by leads 21, 23 and so on to the bulbs g of the corresponding tabulator-places III, II and so on. The contact members 13, 16, 15, 18, 17 are hereinafter referred to as "switch-over-contacts, and the parts 11 and 19 are referred to as switching means.

The insulating-pieces 11 are urged to the left by their appropriate contact-springs 13, 20 with the rear ends 19 and are held in engagement with the even-numbered contacts 16, 18 and so on, so long as they are not pivoted to the left and with their ends 19 to the right by the appropriate numeral wheel z; the pivoting does not occur if and so long as the appropriate numeral wheel 2 remains off the digit 0. For the purpose of this pivoting, an adjustable snap-acting cross-pin 24 is rigidly secured to each extended numeral wheel shaft 14, which presses on the front ends of the appropriate insulating-pieces 11 as soon as the numeral wheel 2 is in the zero-position. In this case which is shown in Fig. la for the hundreds place or hundreds numeral wheel z (first numeral wheel from the left), the current from the contact spring 13 passes directly through the contact end 19 connected to spring 13 to the odd-numbered contact 15 and from there through the contact spring 20 connected to contact 15' to the next following contact-end 19, and so on until the current enters an insulating-piece 11, whose contact-end 19 is pivoted towards the left. This case would occur if the appropriate pin 24 were turned from the numeral wheel out from the zero-position, as shown for example for the second insulating-piece 11 from the left and the tens numeral wheel, so that the force of the spring 20 causes the next-following contact-end 19 to engage the appropriate contact 18.

The current then passes from contact 18 through the leads 23 and [2 to the lamp g of the tabulator key t of the tens decimal-place (Fig. lb), which is accordingly illuminated on the typewriter. The highest decirnal place of the whole numbers, which is set up by a digit other than zero in the totalizer of the calculating machine, in the example the tens decimal-place, is therefore indicated in the typewriter, so that the corresponding key of the tabulator may be operated so as to move the typewriter carriage into the correct position for writing the first digit of the number of the result in the desired column.

The same occurs in other cases, as follows: should the number in the totalizer comprise a hundreds decimal-place, for instance (and other than in Fig. 1a) the first insulating piece 11 from the left would be pivoted to the left by spring 13, since pin 24 of the appropriate numeral-wheel shaft would be turned away. The current would then pass from contact 13 through contact end 19 of the first insulating piece to contact 16 and through the leads 21 and b to the lamp g of the key 2 of the hundreds decimal-place, which would then become illuminated.

If neither the hundreds decimal-place nor the tens decimal-place numeral wheel z of the totalizer has set up a value other than zero, the second contact end 19 from the left in Fig. la would be pivoted to the right by pin 24 of the second numeral Wheel shaft. The current arriving from spring 20 would then pass through such contact end 19 to the contact 17 engaged thereby and from there through leads 17a and b to the lamp g of the key t of the units place, hence being illuminated by any number less than ten set up in the result dial.

This is also true in the case where the third totalizer numeral wheel from the right indicates zero, since in the example according to Fig. la, the third result dial shaft Z4 is not engaged by an insulating piece 19. Accordingly after operating the tabulator key t the zero should be written before the comma as is usual for numbers below unity, since key t is illuminated for all such numbers shown by the totalizer.

A simpler embodiment of the arrangement described above and illustrated in Fig. lb is given schematically in Fig. 2, partially in section, as described later.

A corresponding analogously-operating device is schematically illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. Each bank of keys of the keyboard is arranged over a two-armed pivoting lever 26, which is pivotally mounted on a trunnion 27 on the chassis of the calculating machine V and is held thereon with a tension spring 28 in its zero-position. To simplify the disclosure, this device is shown only for the second bank of keys, wherein the appropriate contact-bank 37 is shown broken away under the fifth contact-position 36. The contactbank 37 over the contact 34 at the top and under the contact 36 at the bottom, which is shown broken away and in dotted lines, relates to the first bank of keys, for which the two-armed pivoting lever 26 is shown in the zero-position in full lines and in the pivoted position in dotted lines. From each digit-key of the bank of keys a push-rod 29 extends to the pivoting lever 26, connected to it and a drive located inside the calculating machine V not shown, which touch it at a distance from the pivoting axle 30, which is inversely proportional to the size of the digit. By pressing down the key the apprcpriate lever 26 pivots downwardly, as is shown in chain dotted lines for digit 3 of the first bank of keys for the units decimal place. On its front. end each lever 26 carries a contact arm 40 of metal with an intermediate insulation and with a front contact-piece 31. in the pivoting movement of the lever 26 the contact-piece 31 travels from thezero-position at 32 to one of the nine key contacts 33, 34, 35, 36 and so on, each according to whether the digit key 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on 9 of the appropriate bank of keys were pressed down. The appropriate lead x is connected to each of the contacts 32 to 36 and so on, which lead to the same digit from the contacts 13 and us. The lead to the contact 32 relating to the digit zero is specially shown as m. Further leads b0, hr, 112, i s and so on go from the contacts 31 to 36 and so on in the same series to the appropriate digitlamps of the digit-keys k of the typewriter W (Fig. lb), each relating to the same digit-sign zero or 1, or 2, or 3, or 4 and so on, wherein the lead b2 is not shown and the lead I23 is shown dotted. The lead 121 is connected to all contacts 33, b2, to all contacts 34, I23, to all contacts 35, be, to all contacts 36, and soon.

As is obvious, the digit-lead for the digit 1 to the tens decimal place of the totalizer (thus from the middle of the three numeral wheels z shown) runs in the tencable-group x to the contacts 33 of the second contact bank 37 from the right and from there as the general lead in to the digit-key k with the digit 1 of the typewriter W. The zero-lead x0 goes however through the contact 32 on the calculating machine as the general lead be to the digit-key zero on the typewriter W and so on analogously to all other digits.

The upper parts of each of the other contact-banks 37, with the exception of the contact-bank for the units decimal-place key-bank and perhaps the key-banks (not shown) for the decimals below unity, if present in the calculating machine, carry a contact-device described below which is hereinafter called the changeover-contact of the keyboard. The main part of this device is a bent metal contact spring 42 insulated from and mounted beneath the upper horizontal arm of the bank 37. The bent-up end of this contact-spring 42 has in general SUfl'lClEllll force to engage downwardly the lower read of a contact-pin 46 which is insulated in the part 370. From each of these pins 46 runs a lead 47 to a lamp g in the tabulator bank t (Fig. lb) and hence for the same decimal-place as that of the appropriate tabulator-bank of the calculating machine V relating to the appropriate bank 37. In the case illustrated in full lines, the lead 47 runs to the second tabulator-place H or key z of the typewriter W and is connected to the lead b This lead b accordingly receives current in a way described below if a digit of the tens digit-bank of the calculating machine has been pressed down. in the example shown in chain-dotted lines, this case is not given but only the digit 3 of the units key-bank is pressed down. The lever 26 of the second bank of keys therefore takes up the zero-position on the contact 32 as shown. It is provided at its front end with an insulated cam 41 which abuts the contact-spring 42 from beneath in the last-named position and its bent-up end becomes disengaged from the head of the contact-pin i6 and abuts a second contact-pin 43, which is insulated from the part 370 and extends downwardly therefrom somewhat less than the contact-pin 46. The contact pins 43 and 46 and an associated contact spring 42 form, for each key-bank, the above-mentioned changeover-contacts of the keyboard. The contacts are called change-over-contacts, since each changes the current flow arriving through a singlelead 44 described below and connected with the contact-spring 42 associated with the contactbank 37 for the highest decimal-place set up in the calculating machine. (In Fig. la this hundreds contactbank 37 corresponding to the hundreds key-bank is not shown.) The current flow through contact spring 4-2 to contact pin 46 is changed so as to go through contact pin 43 and a lead 45a (described below) to the spring d2 of the next following key-bank for the next lower decimal-place, if no digit-key of the key-bank for the next preceding decimal is pressed down and the associated lever 26 therefore is in the zero position shown in Fig. la, e. g. for the tens key-bank.

F om the contact-pin 43, a fully drawn lead 4-5 passes to the lead 12 connected to the lamp g of the tabulator key t for the units decimal-place I; in the example shown in Figs. la and 1b, a changeover-contact 42, 43, 46 is not required for the units key-bank. Should the latter be in the zero-position (not shown) lamp g of tabulator-key t would be illuminated if it is pressed down as shown, since then the zero would be written on the typewriter before the comma, as is usual for numbers below unity.

For the key-banks with decimal-places higher than ten, the lead 45 is omitted and instead a lead 45a shown dotted runs as mentioned above from the pin 43 to the contact-spring 42 of the key-bank of the next lower decimal place. This change-over contact-device of the key-banks of the calculating machine V thus automatically causes the highest decimal place of the whole numbers set upon the keyboard on the calculating machine V with a digit (other than zero, unless on the units bank) to be illuminated on the corresponding key t of the tabulator on the typewriter W.

The purpose of this illumination operated by the aforesaid device for the keyboard is the same as that described for the totalizer: The illumination of the tabulator key for the highest place digit of any number set up on the keyboard of the calculating machine enables the writer to operate at once theilluminated tabulator key without waste of time for consideration about the number to be typed or for trying to find the key by first operating other keys of a higher decimal place and without first looking at the-keyboard of the calculating machine. Pressing down the illuminated tahulator key moves the typewriter carriage as usual into the correct position for writing the first digit of the said number in the desired cohunn. The same applies to a zero set up on the units key-bank of the calculatingtmachine which is to be typed as usual before the decimal point.

In all these cases the illuminating current is only lead to a tabulator lamp g when the typewriter carriage has reached the correct position'for the beginning of the writing of the number in the desired column. This is achieved by the following means:

Each of the contact-springs 43. receives current through the single lead 44 shown by chain dotted line, which runs from the calculating machine V to the contact piece in of the typewriter W, which receives current in its turn as soon as the contact-arm h of the typewriter type-carriage c makes contact with the rail in and thus with the input-lead n. This case occurs if the type-carriage e operates in the second column of the writing, here the text column. The lead 4d is assumed, in the example shown, to run to the contact-spring 420f the hundredkey-bank, not shown, since this is shown, in this sample by mere chance, to be the highest decimal place of the calculating machine, whereas the contact-spring 42 of the ten-key-bank shown does not receive current directly from 44 but indirectly through lead 45a as above mentioned. The above-described change-over contactdevice onthe bank 37 thus represents the device according to the invention for the indication of numbers in the third column of the writing, here the price column, the digits of these numbers-or prices being'set up on the key-board of the calculating machine. The highest decimal place of the number or price is then automatically illuminated on the tabulator if the type-carriage e is located in the text column, that is immediately in advance of the price column. By operating the illuminated tabulator-keys, the typewriter-carriage then automatically travels to the correct position of the third column which corresponds to the highest decimal place of the price per unit. Thereafter one of the contacts 33 to 36 and so forth causes in this position of the typewriter-carriage the illumination of the first digit of the price. The first digit then being touched on the keyboard another of the said contacts causes the illumination of the next following digit and so on, according to the electrical connections hereinafter described.

These connections comprise place contacts 38 on the plate i (Fig. 1b) positioned in the path of the slidingcontact h of the typewriter-carriage e and which are in number equal to the highest number of decimal places to be written in the third (e. g. price) column of the writing, and leads 39, (only one being shown) each of the latter being connected at one end with one each of the contacts 33. Each of the opposite ends of the leads 39 are connected with one each of the contact arms 49 (Fig. 1b), i. c. this opposite end of the lead 39 is connected with the contact arm 40 of that key-bank-lever 26 which corresponds to the same decimal place as the contact 33 connected with the first named end of the respective lead 39. The said electrical connections further comprise the contacts 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 of each of the contact banks 37 and the leads b0, b1, b2, b3, 114 as described above.

in the case of lever 26 in Fig. In as shown by the chain-dotted lines the digit 3 would thus be illumihated according to the tabulation of the typewriter W in the first decimal place of the price column, since the proper contact 35 corresponding digit 3 touches the contact 31 of the pivoted lever 26. Thus the current coming from lead 39 (this lead not drawn for the first decimal place) and going through the related contact arm dil gets to the contact 31 and through the lead bs to the proper lamp 1, which illuminates the digit 3 of the respective digit-key.

In the case shown in Fig. la drawn in full lines (the tens-key-bank), the lead 39 thus passes to the second one of place-contacts 38 of the third column. Each of the contacts 38 receives current as soon as the typewritercarriage 2 moves to the position of the appropriate decimal place which is effected by pressing down the illuminated tabulator key. Subsequently the number is typed by successively pressing down the keys k of the digits or numerals to be typed and which are successively illumihated as the contact arm 12 makes contact through one of the contacts 38 and also through m and n with the source of. current (I.

Calculating and billing example An example for calculating and billing is explained below, corresponding to the position and setting of the numeral wheels, the keyboard of the calculating machine and of the carriage of the typewriter as shown in Figs. 1a and b. For simplicity the following example is chosen; wherein:

The multiplier 4=a quantity of a merchandise measured in grams and to be written in the first column of the writing or the invoice;

The multiplicand 3=the price of the unit, i. e. per gram of the merchandise, e. g. expressed in dollars, which price is to be written in the third column, and

The product l2=the result, namely the total price of the total quantity in dollars, which total price is to be written in the fourth column.

Before starting the operation of the calculating machine V, all movable parts of the latter are arranged in the starting position, and the carriage e of the typewriter W is in the starting position at the right hand end of its path, so that the sliding-contact a is in touch with the rail in, the contact piece in and with that contact 117 which corresponds to the numeral wheel u for the highest decimal place provided in the multiplier mechanism. The contact 117 of the said decimal place is in Fig. lb the contact of the thousands decimal place as shown in the drawing, whereas in Fig. 1a the numeral wheel for this place is not shown in the drawing. In the starting position the carriage S is placed as shown in Fig. la; thus contact arm q engages the first contact s Therefore the tabulator key z is illuminated by the circuit a, n, m, h, v1, v, q, s,, b t W, c and d. Simultaneously a current goes through the contact 11 under reference, and which current comes from cl over n, m, and h and goes through in, the first lead us from the right hand side (not shown in the drawing for the thousands decimal place), the leads x0 and be to the digit key with the digit 0 and from there over the frame of the typewriter W and the lead v back to d. However the zero key k0 thus illuminated and the illuminated key I have not as yet been operated.

Subsequently the multiplicand, i. e. the digit key 3 of the first key-bank from the right of the calculating machine V is pressed down, so that the respective pushrod 29 swings the first lever 26 from the right and which lever is situated beneath the rod 29 starting from the fully drawn position into the chain-dotted drawn position in which position the contact-arm 40 of the lever 26 engages the contact 35 of the first console 37 from the right. Since in the latter position the lead 39 is however not as yet bearing current, the keys t and k0 only are illuminated (as described above), but k0 is not to be operated.

The illuminated tabulator-key I is then operated, so that the carriage e travels with its sliding-contact h to the first decimal place of the first column, thereby contact h therefore engaging the contact in of the first place, as shown in Fig. 1b.

The key (plus) of the calculating machine V is now pressed down four times, since the multiplier in the above example is the number 4. Thereby the contact arm 112 of the numeral wheel for the first decimal place has travelled to the contact us of the digit 4 (as shown in Fig. 1a). Instead of the digit k0 being new switched out the digit k4 showing the digit 4 is now illuminated by the circuit (1, n, m, h, I17, :46, a Z14, 112, 113, .1, b4, k4, W, 0 and cl. This can more conveniently be achieved by pressing the key only once, until (after first illuminating the digit keys in, k2, k3) the multiplier 4 appears on the key-board of the typewriter. The totalizer R now shows the result 12, but it does not yet receive current through the leads 14 and 39, because of the sliding-contact 11 still being in the first column of the plate a.

The key k4 is then operated and therefore the multiplier 4 appears on the correct decimal place of the bill.

(if the multiplier contained two decimal places, for example the number 24, the key t and Ice being illuminated from the beginning would not be touched, but the carriage S would be brought to the second position attributed to the numeral wheel of the ten-decimal place of the multiplier mechanism. In this position contact s would be engaged by the contact arm q. Now (instead of 1 being now turned off) the tabulator I would at first be illuminated by the circuit d, n, m, h, v1, v, q, s b I I), c, a. After operating the tabulator key t the key would be pressed down, until (instead of k0 now turned oil) the digit key It; would be illuminated by the circuit d, n, m, hthe second decimal place-parts I17, I15, 11 m, 112, 113 the leads x and b (not shown), its, W, c and d. After having operated the key k2 the carriage S would be brought back to the first po- H sition and the first illuminated digit 2 would then immediately be turned off. Now the key would be pressed down until the digit key k4 would be illuminated by the circuit a, n, m, hthe units decimal place-parts n7, us, us, 114, 112, u3the leads x and b4, also k4, W, 0, d.)

In the chosen example of the 4 having no decimals under the first or unit-place (three such decimal place contacts in being shown in Fig. 1b), the carriage 2 will then be moved into the second column of the writing. Thus the sliding-contact h abandons the contact-piece v1, and the keys t and k4 so far illuminated are now shut off. Sliding contact 11 now engages the contactpiece v2 and the text, e. g. the description of the merchandise to be invoiced can now be written, while contact h is sliding over contact-piece 112.

Due to the engagement of h with v2 the tabulator key for highest decimal place of the multiplicand 3, i. e. the key t of the first-decimal place I will be illu minated. Thus the current goes from a over n, m, h, vs, 44 to the parts 42, 43, 45a, of all those key-bank-levers 26 which are provided for the decimal'places higher than the ten-decimal--place in the calculating machine, and from there over 42. of the ten-place-key-bank and 43, 45, 17,, t W, c, to (I. More precisely the current first goes through the parts 42, 43, 45a of the not drawn key-bank for the highest decimalplace (not shown in drawing) e. g. of the ten thousands-decimalplace, from there through the parts 452;, 4-3, 45a of the "thousands-decimal-place (not shown in drawing) from there through the parts 42, 43, 45a of the hundredsdecimal-place (not shown in drawing) and then through the parts 42, 43, and 45 of the drawn ten-dccimal-place shown in drawing.

(If the multiplicand were the number 13 instead of 3 the lever 26 of the second-decimal-place would not be positioned in a place where its contact-arm 40 engages the contact 32 as drawn in full lines, but the pushrod 29 for the digit 1 would have swung the contactarm 46 to the contact 33. The spring 42 until now pressed upwards would then no longer engage the contact-pin 43 by its bent-up end, but the spring would engage the contact-pin 46. Thus the current would go, as to the thinking-robot-parts for the ten-decimal place, through the parts 42, 46 and from there over the leads 47 and [1 to the tabulator key t, for the tendecimal-place and would illuminate the latter.)

The illuminated key, in this case the key will now be operated, so that the typewriter carriage e will be moved into the units-decimalplace of the third column, where the multiplicand 3 is to be written. During this operation the sliding-contact h abandons the contactpiece in, whereby light in key l is turned off and the sliding Contact 11 engages the contact 38 of the unitsdecimal-place, i. e. the third contact from the right in this column according to Fig. lb. Thereby the current goes to that lead 39 which corresponds to the units-decimal-place (which is not shown in drawing). However the arrangement of this lead 39 of the first-decimal-place is exactly the same as the arrangement of the lead 39 shown for the ten-decimalplace in Figs. lo and b, with the exception that the lead 39 for the units-decimalplace-contact 38 goes to the units-decimal-place-contactarm 40 as partly shown in Fig. In by chain-dotted lines. The digit key k3 is then illuminated by the circuit (1, n, m, h, 38, 39, 4t 35, 17:, kg, N, c and d, and can now be typed in the correct units-decimal-place of the third column of the writing or bill without the typist having to look at the keyboard of the calculating machine.

(If the multiplicand were the number 13 instead of 3, the tabulator key I illuminated at first, would be operated in the same way. Then, the digit key 7:1 would be illuminated and typed in the correct decimal-place of the third column; after this, the digit key k3 would be illuminated and typed as described before in the units decimal-place of the third column.)

When the aforesaid units-decimal-place, i. e. the digit 3, has been typed, the sliding-contact It has already engaged the contact-piece v3, whereby the totalizer R, bearing current until now and showing the result 12 in the numeral wheels z ever since termination of the multiplication, now receives current in the following manner: The current from (1 goes over n, m, h, v3, 14, 13 first to the numeral Wheel 2 for the highest decimal place, which is shown in Fig. la as the third or hundreds-decimal-place. Since the result 12 shows no digit or numeral in the hundred-numeral wheel z, the contact-arm zz of the latter being the first numeral wheel from the left shows the digit zero, so that cross-pin 2-ikeeps the front end of the insulating piece 11 pressed to the left, as shown. Thereby the metal rear end of the pivotable insulating piece 11 engages the contact 15 connected with the spring 29. On the numeral wheel for the second or ten-decimal-place contact arm zz is placed on the contact Z3 corresponding to the first digit or numeral l of the result. The cross-pin 24 of this numeral wheel is therefore placed in the shown position, in which the spring 29 is able to pull the rear end 1) of the insulating piece 11 for the second or ten-decimal-place to the left hand side and into an engagement with the contact 13.

The current arriving as described above through 14 and 13 therefore passes over 19 of the third or hundreds-decimal-place, to 15, from there to 15 of the second or ten-decirnal-place, to 13, 23, b I W, a and d, thus illuminating the tabulator key t for the second-decimal-place.

The illuminating tabulator key i will then be operated, thereby moving the typewriter-carriage e into the second or ten-decimal place of the fourth column and thus turning off the light of the keys illuminated until then. During this operation the digit key In is illuminated by the circuit d, n, m, Z7, Z6, Z5, Z4, Z2, Z3, x, [1,, k W, e and d. The digit 1 can now be typed in the correct second-decimal-place of the fourth column without the typist having to read the result off the totalizcr After operation of In and owing to the subsequent movement of the typewriter carriage c with its sliding-contact h to the next following contact Z7 at the left, the digit key k2 is automatically illuminated in the same manner as described before, because of the numeral wheel 2: for the units-decimal-place being placed on the contact 3 showing the digit 2. In this case the current runs from d over n, passing through In, hz7 Z6, Z5, Z4, Z2, 23 of the first-decimal-place-x, b2, k2, W and-c to d.

The illuminated key k2 can now be operated without any need for the typist to look at the totalizer for the digit 2. Now the typing of the numbers in the case of this example is terminated as this example has not been selected to demonstrate decimals under unity. All movable parts of the calculating machine will then be brought back to their starting position, in the known manner, e. g. by the usual clearing of the result, and the typewriter carriage e will be pulled again into its starting position at the right hand side, so that the next line of the bill can be written after the typewriter roller has been turned into position for the next line. Similar operations can now be executed.

The same basic principle of the wiring as above described for the changeover-contacts 42, 43 and of the keyboard is illustrated in somewhat schematic form in Fig. 2 for numbers having at the utmost five-decimalplaces, and thus not for the numbers set up in the keyboard T, but for numbers of the totalizer for which the principle has also been described for numbers having at the utmost three-decimal-places with reference to Fig. la for the switch-over contacts 16, 15, 17, 18.

Referring to Fig. 2 five cam discs of insulating material are indicated by 24', which are situated on the shafts Z4 of the five numeral wheels z or" the totalizer. Each of the cam disc's Z4 have one cam 24a corresponding to 13 the pin 24 of Fig. 1. Instead of the pivotable insulatingpiece 37 with the contact-end 19 and the contact-springs 13 and 2t blade-springs are used as shown in Fig. 2 all indicated for every numeral wheel by 13a; the first or unit decimal place has no blade-spring. These bladesprings 13a are pivotable on a long bridge La, which corresponds to the bridge L in Figure 1a. The spring pressure urges these blade springs 13a to the left to engage the left-hand contacts 48 or 50 or 16 or 18, respectively.

If the numeral wheel z stands with the contact arm zz of the distributoror digit-contact Z3 at the digit Zero, as is illustrated for the first, second, fourth and fifth decimal places, the proper blade-spring 13a is held by the proper cam 24a engaging the right-hand contact 49 or 51 (or 15) or 17. Each of the contacts 49, 51, 15 is connected by a lead 52 or 53 or 20a, respectively, with the blade-spring 13a of the next lower numeral wheel 2, whereas from the contact 17 the lead 17a passes to the key I of the first tabulator-decimal place I of the typewriter W as in Figs. la and 1b. The oppositely-lying contacts 48, 50, 16 and 18 are each connected by an electrical lead to those tabulator-keys which indicate the same decimal places V or IV or III or II as the appropriate numeral wheel position z of the totalizer. The leads 23 for the tabulator-decimal place ii and 21 for the tabulator decimal place III and similarly the lead 14 to the blade-spring 13a of the highest (fifth) decimal place have the same significance as in Figs. la and 1b.

Differing from Fig. la it is assumed in the example shown in Fig. 2 that a digit which varies from Zero is set up only in the third numeral wheel z in the totalizer R. Thereafter the blade-spring 13a for this numeral wheel z swings towards contact 16 and causes the tabulator-decimal place 111 to be illuminated through the lead 21, since the rest of the electrical connections on the typewriter W is the same as in the Fig. 1b, so that the tabulator-decimal place III is now illuminated. Now that digit is illuminated according to Figs. la and 1b which is set up or shown in the hundred-numeral wheel and this digit can now be written, and in this manner for all following digits of the next decimal places of the number set up in the result dial. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the current arriving from lead 14 goes over the highest decimal places (contacts 49, 51 and so on) of the numeral wheels 1 until it reaches that highest one of those which have no zero in the proper numeral wheel. Now the key for the same decimal place as that of the last-mentioned numeral wheel is illuminated on the tabulator.

Fig. 3 shows schematically and in analogy with Fig. 2 the application of the invention, to a ten-key accounting-machine with a pin-carriage C in connection with a calculating machine which is not arranged for Writ ing, i. e. the calculating machine as shown in Fig. la. As in Fig. 2 the cam discs of insulating materialwith the cams 24a are indicated by 2.4 and are situated on the shaft za (Fig. 1a) of the numeral wheels z of the totalizer R, in this case however for numbers having nine decimal places at the utmost. The proper blade-springs are again indicated by 13a and as in Fig. 2 are pivotally secured on a bridge Lb (corresponding to L in Fig. la). The spring pressure urges the springs 13a from the vertical position, which is shown for the ninth decimal place, to the left, as is shown for the eighth decimal place, when the proper cam 24a leaves the Zero-position. By this pivoting movement the spring 13a leaves the right hand contact 51a or 15:; respectively and so on and touches the left hand con-- tact 541a or 16a respectively and so on. The contact 51a is connected by means of a lead 53 to the spring 13a of the eighth decimal place, and so are the next following contacts 15a and so on on the right hand side connected with the spring of the next following decimal place which connections are not shown in drawing. An exception hereby are the second or ten"-decimal-place and also the first decimal place, according to Fig. 2. The left hand contact 56a is connected by means of a lead 21a with that one of a series of contacts 56 of the pin-carriage C which corresponds to the highest, that is the ninth decimal place; the left hand contact 16a is connected to the contact 56 of the eighth decimal place by means of a lead 21b, and in the same way each of the left hand contacts of the lower decimal places (numbered 7., 6. and so on in the upper part of Fig. 3) is connected by a lead (not shown) with the proper contact 56 (bearing on the pin-carriage C the same number 7. or 6. and so on). All the contacts 56 are located on a contact-bank B and insulated from each other. This console is connected with the pin-carriage C, the movement of which in arrow-direction is caused step by step according to general practice whenever a digit-key of the keyboard of the associated writing (e. g. accounting) machine (not shown in drawing) is disengaged. Such writing machine is assumed to be fitted with the same electrical means as for illuminating its digit-keys as the typewriter W in Fig. 1b, with the exception that a tabulator is not provided and the contact plate i with its associated contact means is substituted by the pin-carriage and its banks 3 and C in such a manner that all these parts work in analogy with the typewriter W.

For this purpose on a rigid bani: B of this writing machine nine spring-contacts 61 are located which are insulated from each other (numbered 9., 8., 7. in the same way as the contacts 56) each of which contacts 61 can engage only one of the contacts 56 at the time and is electrically connected with the proper one of the numeral wheels z of the totalizer (of the calculating machine shown in Fig. In), as hereafter described. A lead me, which corresponds to the leads Z5 of Figs. la and lb, passes from each of the contacts 61 accordingly to each one of the sliding-contacts Z5 on the shaft Z4 of the proper numeral wheel z, which is fitted with a contact arm Z2 and the digit-contacts 3 as in Fig. 1a. A ten-cable-group from the contacts 13 runs, in accordance with Fig. la, to the proper leads b0, b1 and so on up to be from which group each iead x of the digit contacts za for all numeral wheels 2 is the same for the same particular digit. It is assumed in Fig. 3 that the contact-arm zz stands on the contact for the digit 1; accordingly the lead b1 is connected to the lead x of this contact and leads to the key k, which carries the digit 1. It is also presumed that the numeral wheel z set at this digit 1 is the eighth decimal place of the totalizer and that it is the highest decimal place of the number set up.

As in accordance with Figs. la and 1b, the current first comes from the lead 14 from the contact piece 113 of the result column into the blade-spring 13a of the ninth decimal place of the thinking-robot. Since this decimal place stands in zero position, the current passes over the contact 51a and the lead 53 to the spring 13a of the eighth decimal place and from there over the contact 16a into the lead 21!), the contacts 56 and 61 of the eighth decimal place of the pin-carriage device, through the leads 6, sliding-contact Z5, contact-arm 12, leads x and hi to the digit-ltey-lamp t with the digit 1. Thus in the aforesaid application of the invention to tabulatorless writing (e. g. accounting) machines with a ten-digit-keyboard and which are to be distinguished from typewriters with tabulators as shown in Fig. 1b, the highest decimal place of a given number is not indicated at a tabulator, but is shown directly by the illumination of the digit-key of the highest decimal place, and is tabulated by operating it.

If the digit-key l is now operated, the pin-carriage then travels a further step in the direction of the indicated arrow, so that the contact 56 of the eighth decimal place carrying the current up to this moment to the contact 61 of the eighth decimal place, touches the contact 61 of the seventh decimal place. From here, the current passes in the above-described way to the next-following l seventh numeral wheel z of the totalizer R and from there to the digit-key of that digit which has been set up on this numeral wheel. The same process is then repeated for all following positions of the pin-carriage C or the console B until illumination of the digit of the first or unit decil ral place occurs on the writing machine.

This switch-over and movement scheme can be applied analogously to writing machines with a stationary pin-carriage, in which case the console B is moved by hand or by other movable means.

In the case of such writing (e. g. accounting) machines being fitted with a movable or stationary pin-carriage, according to general known practice, results may be added, which must be read oil a paper and set up in the writing machine after having been calculated separately by a calculating machine or by mental arithmetic. Such reading and transfer of the results is no longer necessary, if the invention is applied to combine such a machine and the calculating machine as described above with reference to Fig. 3, since the results are indicated by the illumination of the proper digit-keys of the Writing ma- 1 chine.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the use of a keyless tabulator for the decimal places below unity, here for and and for the case of a machine according to the Elliott-Fisher-Underwood type, in which the whole machine-head W is movable together with the keyboard and a contact-arm h over the writing surface, wherein the contact arm h operates like the contact arm h shown in Fi 112. Since the movement of the machine-head takes place in the opposite direction to the typewritercarriage c, all contacts must accordingly be arranged in a mirror-fashion (i. e. reversed in consecutive order) on the insulated plate i, starting in opposite sequence from left to right as compared with Fig. lb. This mirror image reversion avoids the need for the plate i being connected together with its contacts to the movable machine-head and as to the contact 11' being situated on the rigid machine frame. An analogous exchange of It and i is possible in the scope of the invention shown in Fig. lb.

The invention is also applicable to a double'line calculating machine (i. e. a storing machine or a machine with two totalizers or other mechanisms) or to two or more other calculating machines, which may be connected electrically and optically with one and the same Writing machine. This can be achieved by connecting the Writing machine with the second totalizer or the second of the other mechani us of the calculating machine or with any other additional calculating machine(s) by utilizing the same electrical connections as exist between the writing machine and the first totalizer and the other first dials of the above mentioned calculating machine. These connections are intercl'iaugeable by means of one or more switches cm the writing machine to one or more or the dials, or one of the calculating machines respectively, as desired. it is quite obvious that the whole of the change-ovencontacts and switcl devices and their control means according to the invention can be constructed in the form of accessories to a known calculating machine and writing machine of any given type, if the writing machine has been properly equipped with lamps and leads for the tabulatorpla.ces" and the digit-keys. Thus, the invention is extended to separately cover the protection of the accessories to be added alone before mounting on an oflice machine. Also according to the invention, all leads between the calculating machine and the writing machine can be assembled and concentrated at each of the two machines to one or more mic-ti -e-plugs, so that tnese machines can be readily separated from other and reconnected or being connected with other similarly equipped machines.

I claim:

1. A device combining a calculating machine and a key-operated number-writing machine, comprising electric indicating means arranged on the writing machine and corresponding to the keys of the latter to indicate optically the denominational order of the digits of any numher to be typed on the writing machine, an electric current supply, contact means arranged on the writing machine and adapted to be connected with the current supply and to be operated by that member of the writing machine which is moved when its keys are being operated, a lead connecting the current supply with at least one of the said contact means, circuit means for connecting the current supply with the said electric indicating means, contact means referred to as switch-over contacts of the result dial and which are arranged on the result dial of the calculating machine, switching means corresponding to the said switch-over contacts, numeral wheels associated with said result dial and having means adapted for the operation of the said switching means, a lead which is adapted for the connection of at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one of the said switch-over contacts, means connecting each of the switching means with one of the said switch-over contacts, leads which connect the said switch-over contacts with the aforementioned indicating means, a carriage carrying the said result dial and which is movable across the calculating machine and a keyboard and also other operation keys as generally used being arranged on the calculating machine and all of these setting up the numeral wheels of the result dial or the proper positioning of the said carriage respectively and accordingly to general practice, all these said means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to illuminate that one particular indicating means which corresponds to the highest place of any number to be typed on the writing machine after it has been set up in the result dial of the calculating machine, whereby the said indication is independent from the position which the carriage of the calculating machine has been moved into.

2. A device combining a calculating machine and a key-operated number-writing machine, comprising electric indicating means arranged on the writing machine and corresponding to the keys of the latter to indicate optically the denominational order of the digits of any number to be typed on the writing machine, an electric current supply, contact means arranged on the writing machine and adapted to be connected with the current supply and to be operated by that member of the writing machine which is moved when its keys are being operated, a lead connecting the current supply with at least one of the said contact means, circuit means for connecting the current supply with the said electric indicating means, contact means referred to as switch-over contacts of the result dial and which are arranged on the result dial of the calculating machine, switching means corresponding to the said switch-over contacts, numeral wheels associated with the said result dial and having means adapted for the operation of the said switching means, a lead which is adapted. for the connection of at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one of the said switch-over contacts, means connecting each of the switching means with one of the said switchover contacts, leads which connect the said switchover contacts with the aforementioned indicating means, a carriage carrying the said result dial and movable across the calculating machine and a keyboard and also other operation keys as generally used being arranged on the calculating machine and all of these setting up the numeral wheels of the result dial or the proper positioning of the said carriage respectively and according to general practice, contact means referred to as sets of change-over contacts of the keyboard and corresponding to the keys of the calculating machine, corresponding sets of adjusting means operated by the keys last mentioned and adapted for the adjustment of the said sets of changeover contacts according to the place of the digit or numeral in any number set up by the last mentioned keys, a lead connecting at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one set of the change-over contacts, leads adapted for connecting in series a numbers of sets of the change-over contacts in accordance with their adjustment, leads connecting the change-over contacts with the said indicating means, all the aforesaid means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to illuminate that one particular indicating means which corresponds to the highest denominational order of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the result dial or the keyboard of the calculating machine respectively, whereby the respective indications are controlled by the movement of the said movable member by means of the said contact means on the writing machine in such a manner as to cause the indications at different times and depending on different positions of the said movable member.

3. A device combining a calculating machine and a keyoperated number-writing machine, comprising electric indicating means arranged on the writing machine and corresponding to the keys of the latter to indicate optically the denominational order of the digits of any number to be typed on the writing machine, an electric current supply, contact means arranged on the writing machine and adapted to be connected with the current supply and to be operated by that member of the writing machine which is moved when its keys are being operated, a lead connecting the current supply with at least one of the said contact m ans, circuit means for connecting the current supply with the said electric indicating means, contact means referred to switch-over contacts of the result dial and arranged on the result dial of the calculating machine, switching means corresponding to the said "switch-over contacts, numeral wheels associated with said result dial and having means adapted for the opera tion of the said switching means, a lead which is adapted for the connection of at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one of the said switch-over contacts," means connecting each of the switching means with one of the said switch-over contacts, leads which connect the said switch-over contacts with the aforementioned indicating means, a carriage carrying the said result dial and which is movable across the calculating machine and a keyboard and also other operation keys as generally used being arranged on the calculating machine and all of these setting up the numeral wheels of the result dial or the proper positioning of the said carriage respectively and according to general practice, contact means referred to as sets of change-over contacts of the keyboard and corresponding to the keys of the calculating machine, corresponding sets of adjusting means operated by the keys last mentioned and adapted for the adjustment of the said sets of change-over contacts according to the denominational order of the digit or numeral in any number set up by the last mentioned keys, a lead connecting at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one set of the change-over contacts, leads adapted for connecting in series a number of sets of the change-over contacts in accordance with their adjustment, leads connecting the change-over contacts with the said indicating means, all the aforesaid means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in-such a way as to illuminate that one particular indicating means which corresponds to the highest denominational order of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the result dialor the keyboard of the calculating machine respectively, further comprising electric indicating means referred to as lamps? and being arranged on the digit-keys of the writing machine to indicate optically the digits or numerals of any number to be typed on the writing machine, sets of digit-contacts being operated by the numeral wheels of the result dial according to the digits or numerals set up in the denominational order of the numeral wheels, leads connecting each of the said digitcontacts with one each of the said lamps which corresponds to the same digit or numeral as set up in the respective numeral wheel, place-contacts on the writing machine operated by that member of the latter which is moved when its keys are being operated, the "placecontacts being adapted to make connection with the current supply through the aforementioned contact means on the writing machine, leads connecting each of a group of the said place-contacts with one each of the sets of numeral wheel contacts which corresponds to the same denominational order in the result dial, sets of key-contacts each set corresponding to that particular set of the aforementioned adjusting means which corresponds to the same denominational order as the last mentioned digit or numeral, each of the said sets of adjusting means being adapted to switch every corresponding set of the last mentioned key-contacts according to the digit or numeral of that key, which has operated the proper set of adjusting means, switching means each of which being secured to one set each of the adjustment means, leads connecting each of the aforementioned key-contacts with one each of the said lamps corresponding to the same digit or numeral as set up in the respective set of key-contacts, leads connecting each of the last mentioned switching means with one each of a second group of the said place-contacts on the writing machine, all the last mentioned means, contacts and connections corresponding to the digits being formed and arranged in such a way as to illuminate consecutively those particular lamps which correspond to the digit or numeral of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the result dial or the keyboard of the calculating machine respectively, whereby the aforementioned respective placeindications as well as the last mentioned digit-illuminations are controlled by the movement of the aforementioned movable member by way of the said contact means on the writing machine so as to cause the indications or illuminations respectively at different times and depending on different positions of the said movable member.

4. A device according to claim 3, comprising in combination numeral wheels for the multiplier dial of the calculating machine, sets of digit-contacts being operated by the numeral wheels of the multiplier dial according to the digits or numerals set up in the numeral wheel places, leads connecting each of the said digit-contacts with one each of the said lamps that is the one which corresponds to the said digit or numeral as set up in the respective numeral wheel, leads connecting each of a third group of the said place"-contacts on the writing machine with one each of the sets of the last mentioned digit-contacts which corresponds to the same denominational order in the multiplier dial, all the last mentioned means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to illuminate consecutively those particular lamps which correspond to any digits or numerals of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the multiplier dial, whereby the last mentioned illumination is controlled by the movement of the said movable member by means of the respective group of contact means on the writing machine so as to be caused at one or other time and in one or another position, both time and position being different from the first mentioned indications or illuminations respectively.

5. A device combining a calculating machine and a key-operated number writing machine, comprising electric indicating means arranged on the writing machine and corresponding to the keys of the latter to indicate optically the denominational order of the digits of any number to be typed on the writing machine, an electric current supply, contact means arranged on the writing machine and adapted to be connected with the current supply and to be operated by that member of the writing machine which is moved when its keys are being operated, a lead connecting the current supply with at least one of the said contact means, circuit means for connecting the current supply with the said electric indicating means, contact means referred to as switch-over contacts of the result dial and arranged on the result dial of the calculating machine, switching means corresponding to the said switch-over contacts, numeral wheels being related to the said result dial and having means adapted for the operation of the said switching means, a lead which is adapted for the connection of at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one of the said switch-over contacts, means connecting each of the switching means with one of the said switch-over contacts, leads which connect the said switch-over contacts with the aforementioned indicating means, a carriage carrying the said result dial and movable across the calculating machine and a keyboard and also other operation keys as generally used being arranged on the calculating machine and all of these setting up the numeral wheels of the result dial or the proper positioning of the said carriage respectively and according to general practice, contact means referred to as sets of change-over contacts of the keyboard and corresponding to the keys of the calculating machine, corresponding sets of adjusting means operated by the keys last mentioned and adapted for the adjustment of the said sets of changeover contacts according to the denominational order of the digit or numeral in any number set up by the last mentioned keys, a lead connecting at least one of the contact means on the writing machine with one set of the change-over contacts, leads adapted for connecting in series a number of sets of the change-over contacts in accordance with their adjustment, leads connecting the change-over contacts with the said indicating means, all aforesaid means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to illuminate that one particular indicating means which corresponds to the highest denominational order of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the result dial or the keyboard of the calculating machine respectively, further comprising electric indicating means referred to as lamps and being arranged on the digitkeys of the writing machine to indicate optically the digits or numerals of any number to be typed on the writing machine numeral wheels for the multiplier dial of the calculating machine, sets of digit-contacts being operated by the numeral wheels of the multiplier dial according to the digits or numerals set up in the denominational order of the numeral wheels, leads connecting each of the said digit-contacts with one each of the said larnps which corresponds to the same digit or numeral as set up in the respective numeral wheel, place"-contacts on the writing machine and being operated by that member of the latter which is moved when its keys are being operated, the place-contacts being adapted to make connection with the current supply through the aforementioned contact means on the writing machine, leads connecting each of one group of the said placecontacts every one with one each of the sets of numeral wheel contacts which corresponds to the same denominational order in the multiplier dial, sets of key-contacts each corresponding to that particular set of the aforementioned adjusting means which corresponds to the same denominational order as the last mentioned digit or numeral, each of the said sets of adjusting means being adapted to switch every corresponding set of the last mentioned key-contacts according to the digit or numeral of that key, which has operated the proper set of adjusting means, switching means secured to one set each of the adjustment means, leads connecting each of the aforementioned key-contacts with one each of the said lamps corresponding to the same digit or numeral as set up in the respective set of key-contacts, leads connecting each of the last mentioned switching means with each of a further group of the said place-contacts on the writing machine, all the last mentioned means, contacts and con: nections attributed to the digits being formed and arranged in such a Way as to illuminate consecutively those particular lamps" which are attributed to the digit or numeral of any number to be typed on the writing machine after having been set up in the multiplier dial or the keyboard of the calculating machine respectively, whereby the aforementioned respective place-indications as well as the last mentioned digit-illuminations are controlled by the movement of the aforementioned movable member by way of the said contact means on the writing machine so as to cause the indications or illuminations respectively at different times and depending on different positions of the said movable member.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said writing machine is a typewriter comprising at least nine digit-keys and tabulator-keys, the latter including keys for the tabulation of denominational order and the typewriter having corresponding place-contacts for the indication of the denominational order of the result, the indicating means being lamps associated with the corresponding tabulator-keys. 7. A device according to claim 2 wherein the said writing machine is a typewriter comprising at least nine digit-keys and tabulator-keys, the latter including keys for the tabulation of denominational order, and the typewriter having two corresponding groups of placecontacts for the indication of the result and also of the number set up in the keyboard respectively, the indicating means being lamps associated with the corresponding tabulator-keys and digit-keys respectively.

8. A device according to claim 2 wherein the said writing machine is a typewriter comprising at least nine digitkeys and tabulator-keys, the latter including keys for the tabulation of denominational order and the typewriter having three corresponding groups of place-contacts for the indication of the result and also of the numbers set up in the keyboard of the result dial, respectively, the indicating means being lamps associated with the corresponding tabulator-keys and digit-keys respectively.

9. A device according to claim 2, wherein the calculating machine is a full keyboard machine having nine digit-keys for each of its key-banks, each of the keybanks over the second or ten-key-bank operating a set of the said change-over contacts by a set of the said adjusting means.

10. A device according to claim 3, wherein the calculating machine is a full keyboard machine having nine digit-keys for each of its key-banks, each corresponding to a set of key-contacts operated by its adjusting and switching means, and each of the key-banks over the second or ten-key-bank operating a set of the said change-over contacts by a set of the said adjusting means.

11. A device combining at least one calculating machine and a key-operated number-writing machine comprising indicating means on the writing machine for indicating the denominational order or" a number set up in the calculating machine, means including contacts referred to as switchor change-over contacts or place-contacts, respectively, for making and breaking an electric current going through the said indicating means, and electric connections between the said making and breaking means, all these said means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to switch on and off that one particular indicating means, corresponding to the highest denominational order at least of any such number to be typed on the writing ma chine which number has been set up in the result dial or in the keyboard respectively, of the calculating machine, whereby the said indication is independent from the position, which the carriage of the calculating machine has becn'moved into.

12. A device combining at least one calculating machine and a key-operated number-writing machine comprising indicating means corresponding to the keys of the writing machine for indicating the denominational order and digits of a number set up in the calculating machine,

means including contacts referred to as switch or .chang'e-over contacts or place-contacts, respectively, for making and breaking an electric current going through the said means, and electric connections between all the aforesaid making and breaking means, all these said means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to switch on and ofi at first that one particular indicating means, corresponding to the highest denominational order at least of any such number to be typed on the writing machine which number has been set up in the result dial or in the keyboard respectively, of the calculating machine, and thereafter to switch on and ofi consecutively those particular indicating means corresponding to the digits of the said numher to be typed, whereby the aforementioned indications are all controlled by the setting of that member of the writing machine which is moved when its keys are operated.

13. A device combining at least one calculating machine and a key operated number-writing machine comprising indicating means corresponding to keys of the writing machine, for indicating the denominational order and digits of a number set up in the result dial of the calculating machine, means including contacts referred to as switch-over-contacts or place-contacts, respectively, for making and breaking an electric current going through the said indicating means, and electric connections between all the aforesaid means, all these said means, contacts and connections being formed and arranged in such a way as to switch on and off that one particular indicating means corresponding to the highest denominational order of any result-number to be typed on the writing machine after it has been set up in the calculating machine, the writing machine being an accounting machine so adapted as to add results previously calculated in the calculating machine and being fitted with a pincarrlagc of the character described, the said indicating means for the denominational order being represented by the indicating means for the digits, whereby those particular indicating means are being consecutively switched on and off which correspond to the digits of the said result to be typed, the switching being controlled through the said place"contacts by the step by step setting of the pincarriage relative to the writing machine.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the calculating machine has a multiplier dial associated with a carriage being movable across the machine and comprising several numeral wheels corresponding to the denominational order of the number set up therein, and wherein the writing machine has tabulatorless electric indicating means for the optical indication of the last mentioned denominational order, whereby the last mentioned carriage is consecutively switching on and off those particular indicating means which correspond to the denominational order of the numeral wheels which the carriage has been moved into.

15. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said writing machine is a typewriter comprising at least nine digit-keys and tabulator-keys for the tabulation of denominational order, at least for the places above unity, and the said indicating means being lamps corresponding to the corresponding tabulator-keys.

16. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least part of the indicating means for indicating denominational order, at least for the places under unity, are lamps which do not correspond to keys but to symbols for the denominational order.

17. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least part of the indicating means for indicating denominational order, at least for the places under unity, are lamps which do not correspond to keys but to symbols for the denominational order, and wherein part of the said electric connections are provided for indicating the denominational order of a number set up in the corresponding numeral wheel places of the multiplier dial of the calcu- 22 lating machine, by way of the said indicatln'g'means, which form a keyless tabulator. f

18. A device as claimed in claim 11, constructed in such a manner as to form a few independent units and accessories adapted to be connected with one another, with a current supply, with an independent writing machine and with an independent calculating machine, respectively, with the exception of the indicating means, previously to be arranged on the writing machine and to be equipped with its electric connections.

19. A device as claimed in claim 12, constructed in such a manner as to form a few independent units and accessories adapted to be connected with one another, with a current supply, with an independent writing machine and with a independent calculating machine, respectively, with the exception of the indicating means previously to be associated to its corresponding keys of the writing machine and 'to be fitted with its electric connections.

20. A device as claimed in claim 11 constructed in such a manner as to form a machine unit combining the writing machine and the calculating machine.

21. A device as claimed in claim 12 constructed in such a manner as to form a machine unit combining the writing machine and the calculating machine.

22. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electric connections between the writing machine and the calculating machine are assembled and concentrated at each of the said machines into one each or more multipleplugs adapted to be connected with one another.

23. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electric connections between the writing machine and the calculating machine are assembled and concentrated at each of the said machines into one each or more multipleplugs adapted to be connected with one another.

24. A device as claimed in claim 11, being two or more times respectively applied to a calculating machine having at least two dials of the same kind referred to as result dials or multiplier dials, the second or further dial respectively of the same kind each having such electric connections adapted to be connected with one and the same writing machine which cause the same operations for the indications of denominational order as the corresponding connections of the first dial of the calculating machine, to which first dial the device is also applied, and switching means being provided for interchangeably making and breaking the connections with one or another dial or dials, respectively, for the same kind and difierent orders.

25. A device as claimed in claim 12, being two or more times respectively applied to a calculating machine having at least two dials of the same kind referred to as result dials or multiplier dials, the second or further dial respectively of the same kind each having such electric connections adapted to be connected with one and the same writing machine which cause the same operations for the indications of denominational order as the corresponding connections of the first dial of the calculating machine, to which first dial the device is also applied, and switching means being provided for interchangeably making and breaking the connections with one or another dial or dials, respectively, for the same kind and different orders.

26. A device as claimed in claim 13, being two or more times respectively applied to a calculating machine having at least two dials of the same kind referred to as result dials or multiplier dials, the second or further dial respectively of the same kind each having such electric connections adapted to be connected with one and the same writing machine which cause the same operations for the indications of denominational order as the corresponding connections of the first dial of the calculating machine, to which first dial the device is also applied, and switching means being provided for interchangeably making and breaking the connections with one or another dial or dials, respectivelygfor the same kind and different orders.

27. A device as claimed in claim 11, being two or more times respectively applied to at least two calculating machines, the second or further calculating machine each having such electric connections adapted to be connected with one and the same Writing machine which cause the same operations .for the indications of denominational order as the corresponding connections of the first calculating machine, to which first calculating machine the device is also applied, switching means being provided for interchangeably making and breaking the connections with one or another calculating machine or machines, respectively, of different orders.

28. A device as claimed in claim 13, being two or more times respectively applied to at least two calculating machines, the second or further calculating machine each having such electric connections adapted to be connected 24 with one and the same writing machine which cause the same operations for the indications of denominational order as the corresponding connections of the first calculating machine, to which first calculating machine the device is also applied, switching means being provided for interchangeably making and breaking the connections with one or another calculating machine or machines, respectively, of different orders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,634 Neff et al Oct. 30, 1917 1,932,220 Kottmann Oct. 24, 1933 1,998,355 Boutet Apr. 16, 1935 2,299,648 Nolde Oct. 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,950 France Nov. 4, 1938. 

